To run E-85 you need to enlarge passages, fuel restrictors (IFR, PVCR, and Accelerator Pump nozzles), bigger jets and sometimes a larger needle and seat. Gaskets may or may not need to be upgraded. Most of the fuel lines are OK with E-85 because it is Ethanol and not Methanol. If you have replaced your fuel pump in the last 4-5 years then it is likely to be ok for the E-85 as well. The amount of fuel required with E-85 is about 25 - 30% over the weight of gasoline. There is at least one manufacturer that is making kits for Holley type carbs but you won't find Holley making any for anything on the street.
Let me be the first to say. Either pay to get a carb built for it or buy a book on carbs. (worth the coin). I have been tinkering with mine and im sure its still not perfect but, i dont have a a/f meter. raceone85.com is about the best place to start reading about it. And to answer your question, I bought a proform center section just for the screw-in air bleeds, drilled th epvrc installed stainless "alcohol" needle and seats, brass floats, non stick blue gaskets and high flow squirter screws and #50 squirters, and jetted it up quite a bit. I need an a/f meter! Id say if you do supercharge yours you will need bigger boosters and likely need to modify the metering blocks or buy dedicated ones. I like the stuff pretty well so far.
To get the power out of E-85 you might consider raising your compression to slightly over 13:1. That will produce more power and provide better fuel economy than is available with compression ratios that are used with 91 octane gas. I agree that the easiest way to get good mixture throughout the different ranges of operation is to buy a carb dedicated to the use. If you are like me and "need" to do it yourself then I say go for it! get all the information you can, learn all you can and then carefully go through the process and do it.
theres alot of good reading on e85 conversions Ive done a couple and it is fairly easy to do as long as you understand the principles of how the carb functions
i understand that it would be alot easyer to buy the kit or another carb but i would like to try doing it my self but probly will just get the second carb so i can switch back when it doesnt work or if the e85 gets to expensive. we only have one station in san diego county and i hear the price is about the same as gas. i was wondering if anybody had some actual numbers or calculations that can be applyed to modifying the carb.
My application is for racing, after a lot of looking I found it was less expensive to buy a kit to convert my Carb so when I made the switch I ordered a kit from Heath Daniels. I supplied him my new motor spec's and what I got was a pre engineered kit with new metering blocks, Air bleeds, squirters, needles, pumps, and two sets of 92 jets to start with. Put it all together and the AFR was right in the ballpark at around 8.3 .86 lambda. I think the biggest challenge is making sure to feed it enough fuel volume ie. Fuel pumps, lines, regulators, filter. Ethanol needs more volume.
